Dual lumen dialysis catheter with internally bored or externally-grooved small bore

Abstract

A dual lumen catheter for insertion into a vein of a patient for use in hemodialysis treatments. An asymmetric dialysis catheter may have a tube containing at least an axial septum asymmetrically disposed within the tube, thereby defining a first and a second lumens, wherein said first lumen is larger in cross sectional area than said second lumen, and a single lumen catheter inserted through the first lumen.

1 . An asymmetric dialysis catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, the catheter comprising:
 a tube containing at least an axial septum asymmetrically disposed within the tube, thereby defining a first and a second lumens, wherein said first lumen is larger in cross sectional area than said second lumen, and   a single lumen catheter inserted through said first lumen.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said tube is a oval tube. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said tube is a single oval tube. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said first lumen is a D-shaped lumen. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said second lumen is a D-shaped lumen. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said single lumen catheter is 4 or 5 French small bore central cathter. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 1 , having uniform outside diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein a ratio of an outer wall thickness of said catheter to said outside diameter is from about 0.01 to about 0.2. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein a ratio of thickness of said septum to said outside diameter is from about 0.02 to about 0.4. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the aspect ratio between the long and short diameters of said oval tube is between about 1.0 and about 1.5 
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a retention cuff integrated along the tube of the catheter. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a threaded sideport communicating with the larger lumen. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the sideport is wholly contained within a reinforced junctional portion of the catheter. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the threading of the sideport is incompatible with Luer-type threading. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter of  claim 12 , further comprising a threaded hub adapted to attach to the threaded sideport. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the threaded hub is incompatible with Luer-type threading. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising an occlusive sideport cap having a threaded hub designed to attach to the threaded sideport, 
     
     
         18 . The catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the threaded hub of the occlusive cap is incompatible with Luer-type threading. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the single lumen 4 French small bore central catheter inserted through the larger lumen extends beyond the distal end of the single tube. 
     
     
         20 . The catheter of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second lumen extend beyond the oval tube, thereby forming a first D-shape lumen and a second D-shape lumen. 
     
     
         21 . A dialysis catheter having a distal end and a proximal end comprising:
 a single tube containing an axial septum disposed therein, thereby defining a first and a second lumens, and   a groove extending along the exterior of said tube.   
     
     
         22 . The catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the outside lumen has a substantially circular groove defined therein, said groove is adapted to substantially enclose an external device therein, said grove extending axially along said axial septum. 
     
     
         23 . A dialysis system, comprising:
 a dialysis unit; and   a catheter coupled to said dialysis unit, wherein said catheter comprises a tube that comprises a first and second lumens, and wherein a single lumen catheter inserted through said first lumen.   
     
     
         24 . A dialysis system, comprising:
 a dialysis unit; and   a catheter coupled to said dialysis unit, wherein said catheter comprises a tube that comprises a first and second lumens and a groove extending along said tube, and wherein a single lumen catheter inserted through said groove.   
     
     
         25 . A method for dialysis, in a subject requiring extended-duration central venous access, the method comprising:
 providing a catheter, wherein said catheter comprises a tube that comprises a first and second lumens;   withdrawing blood from a vein of said subject through an inlet aperture of said first lumen of said catheter;   discharging blood from said catheter into said vein through said second lumen of said catheter; and   inserting a single lumen catheter through said first lumen, extending beyond the distal end of said tube.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the subject has renal insufficiency. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein creatinine level of the subject is no less than 3.0 mg/dL of blood. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of removing the single lumen catheter and capping a sideport communicating with said first lumen. 
     
     
         29 . A method for dialysis, in a subject requiring extended-duration central venous access, the method comprising:
 providing a catheter, wherein said catheter comprises a tube that comprises a first and second lumens and a groove extending along said tube;   withdrawing blood from a vein of said subject through an inlet aperture of said first lumen of said catheter;   discharging blood from said catheter into said vein through said second lumen of said catheter; and   inserting a single lumen catheter through said groove, extending beyond the distal end of said tube.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the subject has renal insufficiency. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein creatinine level of the subject is no less than 3.0 mg/dL of blood. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of removing the single lumen catheter and capping a sideport communicating with said first lumen. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first lumen is the smaller lumen.